That an humble Address be presented to His Majesty, praying that the Infrastructure Planning (Development Consent) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2026 (SI, 2026, No. 735), dated 30 June 2026, a copy of which was laid before this House on 3 July 2026, be annulled.

That an humble Address be presented to His Majesty, praying that the Infrastructure Planning (Development Consent) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2026 (SI, 2026, No. 735), dated 30 June 2026, a copy of which was laid before this House on 3 July 2026, be annulled.

This House recognises Jeff Brown on over 60 years’ service to football and to Wellington Association Football Club, his work to support the development of the club, his service as Secretary, Social Secretary, First Team and Youth Team Manager and his roles with the Taunton and District Youth League for 30 years; and congratulates him on his well-deserved honouring at the recent end-of-season Jewson Western League Convention with its Outstanding Achievement Award.

This House recognises Jeff Brown on over 60 years’ service to football and to Wellington Association Football Club, his work to support the development of the club, his service as Secretary, Social Secretary, First Team and Youth Team Manager and his roles with the Taunton and District Youth League for...

That this House congratulates Wellington’s Town Crier Andrew Norris for his triumph in winning the recently held annual Town Crier competition; and thanks Wellington Town Council, its councillors and staff for maintaining the office of Town Crier and continuing the Cry that There are thirty-nine Wellingtons on our globe but one, which stands in a league of its own, by the Blackdown Hills in Somerset, our market town’s found where sustainability and progress fully abound, Fox’s famed fabrics once spun with pride, sent our name both far and wide, our town is where community and culture entwine. Oyez! Oyez!

That this House congratulates Wellington’s Town Crier Andrew Norris for his triumph in winning the recently held annual Town Crier competition; and thanks Wellington Town Council, its councillors and staff for maintaining the office of Town Crier and continuing the Cry that There are thirty-nine Wellingtons on our globe but...

This House pays tribute to Wellington-based Special Operations Executive Agent, Odette Hallowes GC MBE Legion d’Honneur, 1912-1995, her sense of duty in infiltrating Nazi occupied France to support the Resistance, her integrity in leaving the sanctuary of Somerset for the country of her birth, her bravery in loyally enduring torture at Ravensbruck Concentration Camp and her resilience in outwitting Gestapo executioners; recognises Cllr Nancy Powell-Brace for promoting Odette’s memory in the town; congratulates Court Fields School and Headteacher Polly Matthews on the recent naming of Odette Hallowes Hall; thanks granddaughters Sophie Parker and Caroline Biddle for their support; and celebrates Odette’s conviction that she was an ordinary woman who despite experiencing brutality always believed in the potential nobility of the human spirit and who, in the face of Naziism, fought for justice, freedom and peace.

This House pays tribute to Wellington-based Special Operations Executive Agent, Odette Hallowes GC MBE Legion d’Honneur, 1912-1995, her sense of duty in infiltrating Nazi occupied France to support the Resistance, her integrity in leaving the sanctuary of Somerset for the country of her birth, her bravery in loyally enduring torture...

That this House recognises that speech and language therapy is currently failing many autistic children and young people in England; notes that hundreds of autistic individuals and their families have shared lived experience testimony demonstrating that their specific communication needs are not being met by existing NHS speech and language therapy provision; further notes that autistic individuals require tailored support for speech, language and communication needs that differ significantly from those of non-autistic patients, including in areas such as augmentative and alternative communication, language processing and speech disorders such as apraxia of speech; believes that additional autism-specific training should be made mandatory for all prospective and practising NHS speech and language therapists to ensure autistic individuals receive appropriate, affirming and effective care; and calls on the Government to work with NHS England and the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists to develop and implement such mandatory training as a matter of urgency.

That this House recognises that speech and language therapy is currently failing many autistic children and young people in England; notes that hundreds of autistic individuals and their families have shared lived experience testimony demonstrating that their specific communication needs are not being met by existing NHS speech and language...

That this House believes reform to the leasehold system is long overdue; notes that Liberals and Liberal Democrats have campaigned to end leasehold since David Lloyd George's Limehouse Speech on his People's Budget in 1909; regrets that the Conservatives in government failed to protect leaseholders from dangerous cladding or ban leaseholds; further notes that leaseholders make up over 20% of the housing stock in England which suffer from poorly regulated management and uncapped ground rents; recognises that many leaseholders have faced large service charge increases, including a 32% rise in the last five years; is concerned that the Government’s draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill means leaseholders will continue to pay £250 in ground rents every year for the next 40 years and will still face development values that put enfranchisement and home ownership out of reach; further regrets that the draft legislation fails to set up regulator of the property sector to cap service charges and unregulated estate management charges and provides no date for the introduction of the Bill itself; is further deeply concerned that the Government is failing to honour its manifesto commitment by further delaying leasehold reform; asks the Government to urgently provide real measures to enable leaseholders to enfranchise, cap unreasonable service and estate management charges, and speed up the process for remediation of buildings built with unsafe materials; and finally calls on the Government to abolish residential leasehold, remove the barriers to home ownership and protect the millions of remaining leaseholders from unfair charges.

That this House believes reform to the leasehold system is long overdue; notes that Liberals and Liberal Democrats have campaigned to end leasehold since David Lloyd George's Limehouse Speech on his People's Budget in 1909; regrets that the Conservatives in government failed to protect leaseholders from dangerous cladding or ban...

That this House celebrates Somerset Day 2026 and extends its thanks to the organisers and all those involved in making this year's celebrations a success; notes that Somerset Day on 11th May commemorates King Alfred the Great's campaign in May 878, when he gathered the people of Somerset alongside those from Wiltshire and Hampshire to defeat an invading Viking army at Edington, an event of profound significance in laying the foundations of the English kingdom; recognises Somerset as one of England's ancient and enduring counties, with a history stretching back over a thousand years to the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms; celebrates Somerset's rich and distinctive cultural heritage, including its distinctive landscapes, thriving agricultural traditions, vibrant communities, and proud local identity; and calls for continued recognition and support for Somerset and its people, who embody the spirit of resilience, community, and heritage that has defined the county since the days of King Alfred.

That this House celebrates Somerset Day 2026 and extends its thanks to the organisers and all those involved in making this year's celebrations a success; notes that Somerset Day on 11th May commemorates King Alfred the Great's campaign in May 878, when he gathered the people of Somerset alongside those...

That this House notes with concern the ongoing housing crisis; recognises that the Empty Homes Network and Local Government Association has reported a 10% increase in long-term empty homes; understands the detrimental impact these empty homes have on this crisis; notes that consenting the development of thousands of green fields will not solve the housing crisis; and instead calls for the Government to ensure that developers build genuinely affordable homes for local people in line with the Liberal Democrat commitment to create 150,000 new social homes a year; calls for second homes to be prevented from sitting empty through higher council taxes and planning controls; and urges the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government to support the provision of new homes by providing local authorities with the funding and powers required to bring residential housing back into use and invest in a new generation of rent to own homes for young and excluded renters to get into home ownership.

That this House notes with concern the ongoing housing crisis; recognises that the Empty Homes Network and Local Government Association has reported a 10% increase in long-term empty homes; understands the detrimental impact these empty homes have on this crisis; notes that consenting the development of thousands of green fields...

That this House thanks the volunteers of the Blackdown Support Group on the organisation’s 35 year anniversary; recognises their vital work helping people stay connected with their communities, strengthening wellbeing, and giving people across the Blackdowns better health and greater independence by providing access to the services they need; celebrates their decades of service to the community recognised by Blackdown Support Group volunteers receiving The King’s Award for Voluntary Service; and strongly supports their continued vital work as an essential part of the Somerset and Devon community.

That this House thanks the volunteers of the Blackdown Support Group on the organisation’s 35 year anniversary; recognises their vital work helping people stay connected with their communities, strengthening wellbeing, and giving people across the Blackdowns better health and greater independence by providing access to the services they need; celebrates...

That this House believes reform to the leasehold system is long overdue; notes that Liberals and Liberal Democrats have campaigned to end leasehold since David Lloyd George's Limehouse Speech on his People's Budget in 1909; regrets that the Conservatives in government failed to protect leaseholders from dangerous cladding or ban leaseholds; further notes that leaseholders make up over 20% of the housing stock in England which suffer from poorly regulated management and uncapped ground rents; recognises that many leaseholders have faced large service charge increases, including a 32% rise in the last five years; is concerned that the Government’s draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill means leaseholders will continue to pay £250 in ground rents every year for the next 40 years and will still face development values that put enfranchisement and home ownership out of reach; further regrets that the draft legislation fails to set up regulator of the property sector to cap service charges and unregulated estate management charges and provides no date for the introduction of the Bill itself; is further deeply concerned that the Government is failing to honour its manifesto commitment by further delaying leasehold reform; asks the Government to urgently provide real measures to enable leaseholders to enfranchise, cap unreasonable service and estate management charges, and speed up the process for remediation of buildings built with unsafe materials; and finally calls on the Government to abolish residential leasehold, remove the barriers to home ownership, and protect the millions of remaining leaseholders from unfair charges.

That this House believes reform to the leasehold system is long overdue; notes that Liberals and Liberal Democrats have campaigned to end leasehold since David Lloyd George's Limehouse Speech on his People's Budget in 1909; regrets that the Conservatives in government failed to protect leaseholders from dangerous cladding or ban...

That this House congratulates Michael Stembridge-Montavont, Peter Lewis, and the volunteers of Music on the Quantocks for combining on the Liszt on Taunton event featuring international soloist Elisabeth Pion’s recent standing room-only concert and other events in the series commemorating the 185th anniversary of the concert given by Franz Liszt in Taunton’s Market House; and agrees with the Taunton Courier at the time that such concerts both then and now, as it stated, offer delight without the effort and expense of having to travel to a city.

That this House congratulates Michael Stembridge-Montavont, Peter Lewis, and the volunteers of Music on the Quantocks for combining on the Liszt on Taunton event featuring international soloist Elisabeth Pion’s recent standing room-only concert and other events in the series commemorating the 185th anniversary of the concert given by Franz Liszt...

That this House notes that periodic tenancies under the Renters' Rights Act could become liable for stamp duty; notes with concern that this will mean hundreds of thousands of tenants have to pay stamp duty over the next few years; recognises that renters were neglected by the former Government who completely failed to enact reforms to make the rented market fairer including a ban on no fault evictions; notes with serious concern that renters have had to endure record levels of evictions, extortionate rent increases and some of the lowest housing standards; recognises that these failures are damaging to renters' health and financial stability; and calls on the Government to finally give renters a fair deal and resolve the issue of periodic tenancies becoming liable for stamp duty as soon as possible.

That this House notes that periodic tenancies under the Renters' Rights Act could become liable for stamp duty; notes with concern that this will mean hundreds of thousands of tenants have to pay stamp duty over the next few years; recognises that renters were neglected by the former Government who...

That this House congratulates The Castle Hotel in Taunton on marking its 75th anniversary under the ownership of the Chapman family; recognises its longstanding contribution to Somerset’s hospitality industry and to the cultural and economic life of Taunton; notes the role the Hotel has played in welcoming visitors to the county and in training and employing local people; and commends the Chapman family and staff for their dedication to preserving a Somerset landmark and for their continued commitment to excellence in hospitality.

That this House congratulates The Castle Hotel in Taunton on marking its 75th anniversary under the ownership of the Chapman family; recognises its longstanding contribution to Somerset’s hospitality industry and to the cultural and economic life of Taunton; notes the role the Hotel has played in welcoming visitors to the...

That this House recognises that disabled young people often have to travel further than other pupils to get the right education or college place; notes that they are less likely than other pupils to travel to school or college independently; expresses concern that, as the law stands, a young person is expected to be in school or training until the age of 18, but once they turn 16 they lose their school or college transport even if they stay on at the same school and their needs have not changed; further notes that problems with school and college transport sometimes mean that some disabled young people are unable to learn or to complete their education and that parents have had to give up their jobs to transport their children to school; acknowledges that some councils offer discretionary transport; regrets that an increasing number of these councils are cutting funding for discretionary transport as they try to balance the books; calls on the Government to consider a review of the age-eligibility requirements for SEND transportation services; further calls on the Government to examine ways of reducing the pressures placed on local authorities by the costs of providing SEND home-to-school transport, while ensuring that the quality of transport provision and educational access is not diminished; and also calls on the Government to exempt SEND transportation services from the increase in National Insurance contributions to reduce the financial burden on local authorities and transport providers.

That this House recognises that disabled young people often have to travel further than other pupils to get the right education or college place; notes that they are less likely than other pupils to travel to school or college independently; expresses concern that, as the law stands, a young person...

That this House is deeply concerned by the Government’s significant delays to leasehold reform legislation and the implications for leaseholders who live still in unsafe buildings; regrets that the previous Government failed to protect leaseholders from dangerous cladding or abolish residential leasehold; calls on the Government to improve the fire and safety standards urgently; urges the Government to better protect leaseholders with a statutory right to access to information collected during forensic investigations carried out after a fire; notes that leaseholders make up over 20% of the housing stock in England and that both freeholders and leaseholders often suffer from unregulated estate management companies forcing residents to pay unreasonable service and estate management charges and rogue developers who leave serious defects unresolved; further notes with concern that leaseholders faced an average service charge increase of 11% in 2024 and that service charge increases have left many leaseholders unable to sell; further calls on the Government to urgently abolish residential leasehold for new developments and provide a route to commonhold for all existing leaseholders with management rights to protect them from unregulated charges.

That this House is deeply concerned by the Government’s significant delays to leasehold reform legislation and the implications for leaseholders who live still in unsafe buildings; regrets that the previous Government failed to protect leaseholders from dangerous cladding or abolish residential leasehold; calls on the Government to improve the fire...

That this House notes with concern the findings of a recent dental survey conducted by the hon. Member for Taunton and Wellington, which received over 2,000 responses from constituents; further notes that 71% of adults eligible for free NHS dental treatment in the constituency are unable to access an NHS dentist and that 64% of children are also unable to secure NHS provision; is alarmed that parents have spent on average £470 over the past five years on dental treatment that should have been free, equating to an estimated £4 million across the constituency; recognises that this level of unmet need highlights the growing crisis in NHS dentistry, particularly in so-called dental deserts such as Somerset; and calls on the Government to take urgent action to expand access to NHS dental services, including ensuring adequate provision in Taunton and Wellington.

That this House notes with concern the findings of a recent dental survey conducted by the hon. Member for Taunton and Wellington, which received over 2,000 responses from constituents; further notes that 71% of adults eligible for free NHS dental treatment in the constituency are unable to access an NHS...

That this House congratulates Brian Standring of Wellington, Somerset, on completing his fourth sky dive at the age of 86 to raise funds for the Alzheimers Society; and commends him for the invaluable role he played in the campaign to save the assisted living complex Ivy House, where he lives, along with The Old Vicarage both in Wellington, from closure following the decision by Abbeyfield to keep the homes open.

That this House congratulates Brian Standring of Wellington, Somerset, on completing his fourth sky dive at the age of 86 to raise funds for the Alzheimers Society; and commends him for the invaluable role he played in the campaign to save the assisted living complex Ivy House, where he lives,...

That this house congratulates Tom Banton and Somerset County Cricket Club for his remarkable record-breaking score on the weekend of the 5th of April; commends Tom for making history with the highest ever score by a Somerset batter in first class cricket, achieved in the Rothesay County Championship First Division match against Worcestershire at the Cooper Associates County Ground in Taunton; recognises Tom’s mammoth 371 runs, having faced 405 balls, struck 56 fours and two sixes; understands the deep-rooted importance of Somerset County Cricket Club and cricket in Taunton and across Somerset, where the sport is a proud part of local identity and community life; and notes that achievements like Tom’s inspire future generations and strengthen Somerset’s rich cricketing heritage.

That this house congratulates Tom Banton and Somerset County Cricket Club for his remarkable record-breaking score on the weekend of the 5th of April; commends Tom for making history with the highest ever score by a Somerset batter in first class cricket, achieved in the Rothesay County Championship First Division...

That this House commends the pupils of West Monkton Primary School for their advocacy in highlighting the urgent issue of plastic pollution; recognises the importance of educating and empowering young people to take action in protecting the environment; acknowledges the detrimental impact of plastic waste on marine life, ecosystems, and communities; supports measures to ban single-use plastics, improve recycling infrastructure, and promote a circular economy; and calls on the Government to accelerate efforts to tackle plastic pollution to secure a cleaner and more sustainable future for the next generation.

That this House commends the pupils of West Monkton Primary School for their advocacy in highlighting the urgent issue of plastic pollution; recognises the importance of educating and empowering young people to take action in protecting the environment; acknowledges the detrimental impact of plastic waste on marine life, ecosystems, and...

That this House recognises that for many children and their families, personalised home education is the best choice, and therefore affirms the rights of parents to choose home education where it is in their child’s best interest; notes that, in and of itself, home education does not present a safeguarding risk; further notes that existing child protection frameworks should be strengthened; believes that the implementation of a register of children not in school should not impose burdensome or disproportionate levels of oversight on home educators; further believes that details required within that register must be limited to those strictly necessary to safeguarding the wellbeing of the home educated child; is concerned at the potential for home education provision to be unjustly denied in cases where it is most appropriate for the child, particularly for children with SEND diagnoses; also notes the lack of support offered to home educating families in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill; urges the House to support amendments to that Bill to make examination free to home educated children; and further urges the Government to engage meaningfully to strengthen not weaken the wellbeing and life chances of home educated children.

That this House recognises that for many children and their families, personalised home education is the best choice, and therefore affirms the rights of parents to choose home education where it is in their child’s best interest; notes that, in and of itself, home education does not present a safeguarding...